Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Sister's Stitching Retreat


Here we are --- Cari, Cathy and Joan. I think we are some pretty good looking chicks! We were at our favorite quilting shop in Florida - Rainbows End.
Whenever we get together we always have fun gifts for each other. Cathy gave both of us this darling Brighton bracelet and a goodie box she decorated and filled. Mine even had my own personal license plate for my bike. She added some keys, a button hook, old buttons and vintage needle packages. It was darling.

Joan made all three of us these very, very stylish aprons. We wore them for the Sister's Retreat - Meet and Greet - Open House. Are we too cute or what??

A close-up of mine with a little notebook stashed in the pocket....
She also had these necklaces made. The side pictured is a wedding picture of our parents. The other side has my initial - very precious.


She also gave us The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook which is full of the most luscious looking cupcakes. Break out the Kitchen Aid!

I gave the girls a gift bag that included punchneedle projects, lotion, thimbles, a magnet thingy, notebook, pen....soap.... and other stuff...

Here's a pic of the punchneedle projects and a few of the oil cans Cathy scored on eBay.


Then my stash of Valdani floss to use for our projects. I hope we have enough - LOL !! We each got our bird punched and pics of the completed project will be in a future post!


And a funny story about the bird punch. Cathy called me two weeks ago at 8:30 in the morning (now that's 6:30 in Utah). Breathlessly she asked me if I've been on Terri Boog's blog lately...had I seen the DARLING BIRD ON THE OIL CAN that Terri had punched? I answer...of course I've seen Terri's bird...I'm a huge fan of Terri's blog. And I answer, yes sister...this will be a sister Florida project....it's sitting on my kitchen counter!! Whoo Hoo!!

And I hosted a Sister's Retreat - Meet and Greet - Open House on Saturday afternoon. I invited my dearest stitching friends because I wanted them to meet my sisters and my sisters to meet them. We had such a good time. I served salads and lemonade on the lanai. It was a beautiful day. We ate, stitched, and laughed all afternoon. Here are some fun pics.

Sue and Joan

Barb (lounging stitcher) and Susie

Jenny and Cathy

Pink and Rita

Vicki and Cheryl

And my darling granddaughter Carly

All in all it was a wonderful visit but much too short. I have more pics that I'll post later in the week.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoying my vacation with me!!

18 comments:

Loraine said...

Oh my goodness, what a wonderful retreat you are all having! I wish I had sister's, so I could do the same thing! I love all the fun gifts you give each other. Amazing and talented women you are!
I love all the pictures with your friends too. It looks like a wonderful stitching day!
Love those oil cans. I've been on the lookout for one. Terri's blog is so fun to read, and so is yours! Have a great day. Hugs to you and all your sisters.

Nicole said...

Looks like you all had so much fun!! I wish I had been down in Florida! I love Rainbow's End. Isn't it the best quilt shop ever?? I could stay in there all day!! Love all the goodies!! :)

Margaret said...

Oh wow! It always looks like so much fun when you and your sisters get together!! I love how you all give each other gifts and share your love of pretty fabbies and crafts together. Thanks for sharing a bit of your fun with us out here! Hugs!

Siobhán said...

What a great retreat the three of you had! Thanks so much for sharing the pictures. The love that you have for each other shines through in everything you do--from the pictures, from your words, from the gifts that you give one another. Thanks for letting us share your joy! :)

Cathy Lloyd said...

Oh sister! The fabulous memories! Oh the days...went by so fast... Love the pics! It was just too darn much fun and now I'm sitting here in Utah wishing I were there enjoying sisters again! XOXO

Deb said...

Cari, it looks like you all just had the best time! What a wonderful way of spending time together. I think that it's amazing that all of you have the same interests. My sister and I are as opposite as night and day! And the pictures with your group - how wonderful is that. It's hard to find a nice close group of friends that get together like that! Can't wait to see your bird. Terri's was an inspiration!

Julie M said...

Cari, your retreat sounds like a blast! Wish I lived someplace where I could have a lanai and sit out there stitching with friends and loved ones. I loved all the gifts you exchanged too!

thanks for sharing your fun!

Christy said...

You gals are too dang cute! Glad you had a good time!!! You are coming to Utah next now, right?

woolwoman said...

Cari - OH how i wish I was just a little bit closer so I could have been on that guest list LOL - looks like you had a marvelous time with the sisters and what wonderful photos from your lanai - LOVE IT ! Those of us who don't have sisters or whose sisters don't share the same interest just have to be soul sisters with each other. I value you and my other blog friends SO much ! Hope to see you again one day Mel

Angela Jamison said...

Fun...fun...fun...All of the sisters gifts are over the top. You guys are so dang cute. My panties are in the biggest wrinkle over the bird needle punch on the oil can..OMG!!! What a wonderful heritage I come from.

XOXO, Angela

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri ~ Boog) said...

What a great post, Cari and Man, I almost missed it somehow! You guys are all so cute! I sure wish I could have joined you - you look like you're having so much fun. Great gifties you gave each other, too. Love the bracelets, the necklaces and the aprons - how cute are they?! So... where's your punchneedle birdie - I want to see it!
((((Hugs)))

Stef said...

Wow, looks like you all had so much fun! I have to say the the necklace of your parents nearly brought a tear to my eye - what a lovely gift to treasure!

Donna F said...

Cari, u and your sisters look sooo much alike! How wonderful to be able to have them visit...and was so nice to see everyone happy & stitching on Saturday. Donna F

Joan said...

Now that was a TRUE VACATION
You sisters are a dream come true.
Thanks for being the FAB Hostess.
Working on a new "Birdie" looks
much better....purchased a
Morgan Stand saturday at Pine-Needles.....can't wait to stand up the "Winter Berries"
xoxo

Jenny in Florida said...

Cari It was so much fun being at your house that day! You and Cathy and Joan are just the greatest sisters! And it was so good to get to visit with Cathy again! Thanks for inviting me! And I have to tell you, Jean was miffed becuase you didn't have a picture of her!!

Susie said...

Very fun times you must of had being together building sisterly love between you. Love all the fun pictures to took!! Memories that will last forever!!

Littlebit said...

Beautiful gifts! I LOVE Brighton jewelry and have quite a few of their bracelets. Sounds like you had a perfectly wonderful time.

Carol R said...

Very pretty bracelet!
Great blog - I've bookmarked you for future visits.

I see you live in Florida - lucky you. We come over twice a year if possible to stay on Siesta Key - love it!